Search for: All records

Abstract In extending volcanic arcs such as the Aegean, tectonic processes exert a significant control on magmatism. Spanning scales from 1 to 10s of km, volcanic vents, edifices, and eruptive centers follow the orientation of, and are located near, fault zones. Whether this tectonic control on magmatism results from individual faults/fractures weakening the crust or because regional stresses control magma input into the crust is debated. Here we investigate the scales of tectonic and magmatic interactions, specifically focusing on the role of local‐scale (<10 km) faults/fractures in controlling magmatism. We infer local‐scale fault/fracture orientations from anisotropic active‐source P‐wave travel‐time tomography to investigate tectonic and magmatic interactions in the upper crust of Santorini Volcano, Greece, and the actively deforming region to the east. We use the anisotropy magnitude and seismic velocity reduction to model the relative distribution of both consistently oriented and randomly oriented faults/fractures. Our results show that oriented faulting/fracturing resulting from regional‐scale (>10 km) tectonic stresses is distributed broadly across the region at 2–3 km depth, approximately paralleling volcanic/magmatic features. On a local‐scale, magmatism is neither localized in areas of higher oriented fault/fracture density, nor is it accommodating enough extensional strain to inhibit oriented faulting/fracturing of host rock. The alignment of magmatic features shows strong tectonic control despite the lack of correlation with local oriented fault/fracture density. These results suggest that magmatic processes are strongly influenced by regional‐scale, not local‐scale, tectonic processes. We infer regional processes have a greater impact on magmatism than local features due to their greater effect at depth. 

Abstract At extensional volcanic arcs, faulting often acts to localize magmatism. Santorini is located on the extended continental crust of the Aegean microplate and is one of the most active volcanoes of the Hellenic arc, but the relationship between tectonism and magmatism remains poorly constrained. As part of the Plumbing Reservoirs Of The Earth Under Santorini experiment, seismic data were acquired across the Santorini caldera and the surrounding region using a dense amphibious array of >14,300 marine sound sources and 156 short‐period seismometers, covering an area 120 km by 45 km. Here aPwave velocity model of the shallow, upper‐crustal structure (<3‐km depth), obtained using travel time tomography, is used to delineate fault zones, sedimentary basins, and tectono‐magmatic lineaments. Our interpretation of tectonic boundaries and regional faults are consistent with prior geophysical studies, including the location of basin margins and E‐W oriented basement faults within the Christiana Basin west of Santorini. Reduced seismic velocities within the basement east of Santorini, near the Anydros and Anafi Basins, are coincident with a region of extensive NE‐SW faulting and active seismicity. The structural differences between the eastern and western sides of Santorini are in agreement with previously proposed models of regional tectonic evolution. Additionally, we find that regional magmatism has been localized in NE‐SW trending basin‐like structures that connect the Christiana, Santorini, and Kolumbo volcanic centers. At Santorini itself, we find that magmatism has been localized along NE‐SW trending lineaments that are subparallel to dikes, active faults, and regional volcanic chains. These results show strong interaction between magmatism and active deformation.